Tony Charlton and Alan Jones

The knowledge @ UCAS

Outline of morning

Warm up quiz

Understanding the application system

Pre-application research tools

University challenge

• First, a test of your geography…..

ANSWERS

Oxford University

University of Exeter

The University of Manchester

Queen’s University Belfast

University of St Andrews

Aberystwyth University

Setting the scene – UK higher education

Largest sector in Europe 300 + universities & colleges 38,000+ courses

Understanding the application process

The applicant journey - summary

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

▪Researches where to study

▪Registers online with UCAS Apply▪Completes all sections of form

▪Reference added by centre

▪Centre sends form electronically to UCAS

▪UCAS processes form and forwards to chosen HEIs

▪HEIs submit decisions

▪Applicant views decisions on Track

▪Applicant replies to offers on Track (Firm / Insurance)

▪HEIs confirm places when results are released

Completing the form

Key facts

Number of choices (5 max.)

2012 applicant fee - £22.00 (£11.00 – single choice)

Simultaneous consideration

‘Invisibility’

Conditional offers

Key dates

15 October

15 January

24 March

30 June

Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry

Oxford or Cambridge

‘On time’ applications

Various Art & Design Courses

Applications after this date held for Clearing

• Registration only takes 10 minutes

• Use the school ‘buzzword’

• No need to pay at registration stage

2012 apply – went live on 8 June

What information will UCAS require?

Your students are asked to complete the following sections:

Personal Details

Student Finance - new

Additional Information

Choices

Education

Employment

Personal Statement

Having checked the above, you will then add:

A Reference

Personal (contact) details....

New section - student finance

Adding choices, one at a time...

Adding qualifications...

Common applicant errors

Failure to check entry requirements

Qualifications (eg. GCSEs) missing,

or incorrectly named, on form

Wrong student support fee code

Email address not verified

Forgotten to register for admissions

test

Work the UCAS reference into the existing school

schedule.

For example at the end of year 12Students fill in activity / information sheetsSubject tutors complete subject reference on students

the same time they complete end of year reportsHead of sixth (or assigned co-ordinator) gathers all

information and edits referenceKeep files of previous students references

Reference writing

Example format for a reference

Information on school /college

Suitability for chosen course

Subject by subject report

•Personal qualities•Endorsement

University and college decisions

University and college decisions

Admissions tutors can make one of three decisions:

Conditional Offer Unconditional Offer Unsuccessful

Conditional offers

Can be expressed in:

UCAS Tariff points 200 points

Grades BCC in A levels, or MPP in BTEC ND

a combination of both 260 points, including a B in Maths

Tariff tables

29 July 2010

Results time

Confirmation

Exam results are issued (e.g. A levels on 16 August 2012, IB

& BTEC in July 2012)

Admissions staff check if applicant has matched the conditions of the offer

If yes, the student will be sent an official confirmation of their place

Confirmation (2)

Adjustment period

What is it?

Five day window of opportunity to seek place at another university or college

Eligibility

Results must have exceeded CF offer and subsequently been made UF

Celebration time!!

If an applicant has no offers…

Two further stages to gain a place:

UCAS Extra (24 February – 4 July 2012)

Clearing (16 August 2012 onwards)

Top Tips

Hints for managing A level results day

Definitely no benefit in staying up late the night before (Track is not unfrozen at midnight!)

Students need to bring their Track log in details into centre

Tell students that not all decisions from CF/CI institutions will be made by the end of the day – need for patience

Stress the importance of reading carefully all correspondence from UCAS

Clearing choices can be entered on Track from 18.00pm

Encourage students to have contingency plans (e.g. part-time or distance learning HE, Foundation Degree, Apprenticeship, re-apply in 2012 Scheme)

Questions

Tony CharltonProfessional Development Officer

t.charlton@ucas.ac.uk